Munich: China’s Rifle shooter Zhu Qinan and Ukraine’s Pistol shooter Olena Kostevych have been elected as the “2011 Shooters of the Year” in male and female category respectively by a panel of international sport press representatives and by the members of the ISSF Athletes and the Coaches Committees.

China’s Zhu Qinan, 27, an Olympic Champion of Athens 2004, winner of an Olympic Silver medal in 2008, has been the best 10m Air Rifle Men shooter for years now. Qinan who started his international sport career in 2003 won a total of 20 ISSF World Cup awards, and finished on six different ISSF World Cup Final podiums..

During the 2011 season, Zhu switched to the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event, proving to be a great marksman also on the new distance by winning two ISSF World Cup Golds in Sydney (AUS) and Fort Benning (USA).

“This award will motivate me to do more and to do it better. – The Chinese ace shooter Zhu commented about being voted “Shooter of the Year” - I will be better inspired to push forward the development of my shooting.” he was quoted saying to the issf.com
“I want to win another Olympic Gold in London, that’s my goal, and I want to win it in a different competition: the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men event,” he added.

Ukraine’s Olena Kostevych, 26, the 10m Air Pistol Women Olympic Champion of Athens 2004, won “Shooter of the Year” for the second time in her career.  She won her first ISSF World Cup in the year 2002 at the age of 16.

By Indian Sports News Network